plate no. 5776

By the River of Tuonela, study for the Jusélius Mausoleum frescos

Akseli Gallen-Kallela, 1903

oilSymbolismsketch and studyfiguresboatrivercrowdlandscapewater

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, anatomical accuracy, and creating a somber, muted color palette. It also provides practice in depicting complex compositions with multiple figures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch of the overall composition, paying attention to the placement of the figures and the boat.
step 02
Establish the dark background and the lighter areas of the river and figures with broad washes.
step 03
Start blocking in the figures, focusing on proportions and anatomical accuracy.
step 04
Develop the details of the faces, hands, and other key features.
step 05
Refine the values and color transitions to create depth and form.
step 06
Add details to the boat and the surrounding environment.
step 07
Pay attention to the subtle color variations in the skin tones.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall impact.

color palette

primary · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

Achieve the muted tones by mixing raw umber and ivory black with small amounts of other colors. Use white to lighten values and create highlights. Mix small amounts of red and blue into skin tones to create realistic hues.

techniques

·figure drawing
·glazing
·color mixing
·value studies
·anatomical studies

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the figures.
→Overly bright or saturated colors.
→Lack of attention to anatomical details.
→Ignoring the subtle value transitions.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (raw umber, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, cadmium red light)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags